Fiji journalists still cautious despite lifting of emergency law

A Fiji freelance journalist says his colleagues in the media are still maintaining a cautious stance of self-preservation despite the lifting of emergency law on Saturday.

Ricardo Morris says journalists are still subject to restrictions under the Media Decree and are just waiting to see how things play out.

Fiji's media had seen censors in newsrooms in the past.

He says there are some signs of change including criticism of the Attorney-General by a vocal critic of the regime, trade union leader Felix Anthony, in a Fiji Television story broadcast at the weekend.

But Ricardo Morris says the reporting was highly unusual.

"Under PER that would never have been broadcast so it was somewhat refreshing after a long while - almost three years - and then you have something as stimulating as seeing the FTUC General Secretary speaking and commenting on the Attorney-General."